The Gustavus Thread

[miked]

As a reserve, could you tap into the river with a small pump and pump it up to the house to a water tank?? Might be another option.

Could be used just for tolet flushing if nothing else. I grew up using the outhouse and in the winter that was far less than pleasant. I guess the summer time wasn't all that pleasant for other reasons. Mike.

[BurlyGuys]

Frank I would love to show up on your stoop one day for a visit, but I have the Undesirable Alien designation and can not cross the 49th. The last time I did over some day old baby chicks ordered from Murray McMurray Hatchery hatchery i was sent a bill for $6,000.00.

When the chicks arrived at the US post office they had phoned me to let me know, I had a brand new 93 Dodge 4x4 with the Cummins diesel and thought I would go and pick them up, the border guy asked for my D.L. the headed back inside his shack to call it in. Knowing the gig was up made a U-turn back into Canada so as not to loose the truck that I had only had for a couple of months and paid $36K cash for it.

From the Canadian side called a cab on the US side to pick up 400 baby chicks to bring over to Canadian customs, it was a funny event as the US guy could see me waiting then when the cab arrived he was gawking through his field glasses over at us unloading and loading the box's into the truck.

Yea I left the D.L. behind, all I got in the mail was the notice to pay $6,000.00 for the illegal entry.

In your travels or maybe even in the dark recesses of you shop you may have what I'm looking for, it's a manual coil winder for winding the coils inside an electric motor like the one on this page Motor Winding Machines, Manual Motor Winding Machines, Motor Winding Arbors, India

My little brother did something similar and can never return to Canada. When he was 16 he regularly played with nunchucks. He'd never hurt a fly, they were just a toy to him. Well in Canada they are considered deadly weapons, and they found them at customs and arrested him. Don't remember how he got back to the US but he hasn't been back to Canada and its been 26 years...

[Bear]

That's some fine work you're doing there Gus. I like the moving in, setting up, and sorting out, almost as much as what comes after ; )

In the spring I'm going to borrow the neighbors excavator and dig a new well that is much deeper, I think that if I teir the hole going down I can get down 50 ft.. With the size of hole required I wont have to worry about cutting the lawn for a year or more.

The weired part is that the river borders our property line at the rear, you would think we were sitting right on the water table. We can get water from the community Village well just a mile down the road from us and there's a laundrymat in Sandy Lake.

Now we know why the property came with an outdoor sheeter, havent had to do that since I was a kid living on the farm.

Oh well at least I have a few inside projects keeping me busy, so far I have 12 drawers with another dirty dozen going in opposite. The pigion holes will have 56 cubby's when its completed, on top of the cubby's a shelve for things like gasket cement and WD-40 easy grab no hunting.

On the top half of the cubby's my most popular sockets, screw drivers, seal picks and sockets.

[gustavus]

I am reading this thread from beginning to end with a lot of interest. Curious, though, what is this trap line you keep referring to?

The trapline, is my protected territory similar to a gold claim no other scrappers to compete without prejudice I have three Indian reserves within driving distance. Most residence's have three or more derelict vechichles in the yard this is where I've been buying most of my scrap cars and trucks.

Jack the owner of the scrap yard i was hauling to did not like me picking up scrap from his end of my run, had to hole the fuel tanks and could not stuff a car. Jacks yard is an hours drive for me thus I coined the phrase trap line for my home aera. Jacks was a sweet deal in that I could weigh my own loads after hours then uload my own scrap with his loader.

I no longer haul to Jack's, Westamn Salvage is the same driving time plus I do not have to punture a hole in the fuel tanks and I can stuff my cars and trucks to the nines for added weight.

I recently gave up my class 1 drivers license, I did not want to be bothered with the yearly medicals, come spring I'm building a goose neck trailer using the frame from that old school bus sitting in my yard. My last trip into Westman came home with a nice set of torflex axles.

Trailer will have a hydraulic winch mounted with a small diesel to power the pump, if i desighn the trailer right i should be able to double deck my cars using only the winch.

Years ago i only used long wheel base 1 tons with PTO driven winches and could easily double deck vehicles. The trick is to hook your cable as far back under the car or truck being double decked as possible as the cable become taunt the 2nd vehicle will lift and ride the tightrope up and over the 1rst loaded scrapper.

Sometimes your truck while loading that 2nd scrapper will lift the front wheels high into the air but gently settles back down to earth as that 2nd advances onto the load.

Sometimes the roof of the 1rst vehicle loaded will cave in deep enough where the cable is resting then fold over the cable entraping it in the fold now you have a problem, been there done that. This is where anger managment come in handy.

Anyhow the crane truck is no longer mine it sold a few months back.

[gustavus]

That's some fine work you're doing there Gus. I like the moving in, setting up, and sorting out, almost as much as what comes after ; )

Thanks Bear, at my age I decided not to spend thousands of dollars on a nice tool box where it's no longer needed as Im now retired and have no plans to work out of someone eles's shop, so having things organized at home where I can put a finger on a much needed tool works for me.

My good freind George had a shop on his farm when he built his new house and shop you would have sworn that he had moved the old shop over to the new property as it was a complete clone of the old shop every bech and piece of equipment placed in the same location as the old.

George even had a telephone in every bathroom, the man had class, he phoned me at 5:30 am one morning when I answeared the phone I asked him if he knew what time it was. His reply was to say that I had missed the best part of the day.

[BurlyGuys]

Can't believe I spent most of Christmas day reading this, but what a fascinating thread. Read it because I was interested in your car scrapping adventures, but your transitions have been very interesting as well. Thank you Gus!

[gustavus]

Could be used just for tolet flushing if nothing else. I grew up using the outhouse and in the winter that was far less than pleasant. I guess the summer time wasn't all that pleasant for other reasons. Mike.

it's not that bad really since the invention of high density Styrofoam seating has become a pleasure.

[Bear]

His reply was to say that I had missed the best part of the day.

hahaha, click!

[gustavus]

hahaha, click!

No no this man would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, I owed this man for the many favors and goodies he had given me over the many years I knew him while he was alive. He passed away during surgery.

If I needed a hard to find part for a project i was working on George was the man to see, almost every visit he gave you a 100 lb sack of potatoes carrots or onions from the farm.

During that early morning call he went on to say that he did all his calling first thing in the morning then got on with his day, which usually meant working out in his shop doing repairs for other farmers.

[Bear]

I wasn't hangin up mad, I was just hangin up, haha ; ) I'm sorry to hear about your friend, guys like that are few, and far between
Morning people certainly have the advantage, I just happened to be a slow starter, but stay at it till it's done, even if it's 3am. I've never been inclined to call anyone before 9am, or after 9pm, unless it's been pre-arranged.
My mornings are generally spent sorting, figuring, and mapping things out, and it's sort of a distraction having the phone ringing. Maybe my getting older, sort of got a one track mind, but really prefer any distractions to be in the mid to late afternoon, and that's usually when I make what phone calls I have to make, generally, and hopefully, a day ahead

[gustavus]

I wasn't hangin up mad, I was just hangin up, haha ; ) I'm sorry to hear about your friend, guys like that are few, and far between
Morning people certainly have the advantage, I just happened to be a slow starter, but stay at it till it's done, even if it's 3am. I've never been inclined to call anyone before 9am, or after 9pm, unless it's been pre-arranged.
My mornings are generally spent sorting, figuring, and mapping things out, and it's sort of a distraction having the phone ringing. Maybe my getting older, sort of got a one track mind, but really prefer any distractions to be in the mid to late afternoon, and that's usually when I make what phone calls I have to make, generally, and hopefully, a day ahead

When my father was alive time was never a consideration, a 3:00 am was call was answered the same had it been 3:00 pm.

I myself find it best to deal with letters, email and telephone communications first thing in the morning while people are still sucking back that first cup of coffee, there used to be a time when you could almost catch someone home but in todays world it's not uncommon for both mother and father to be out working to support the family.

Whenever I'm calling about scrap it's always before the kids are off to school while an adult is still available to take the call. I find that most people prefer a morning call as to an evening when they consider this their down time.

[Re-cycler]

Merry Christmas Gill and all!
This is the only thread I read on this forum any more.
Having your shop at home is a great thing you can pick and choose your jobs and if you want to take on projects for others they can bring it to you.
Best wishes for the new season!
;?)

[gustavus]

Merry Christmas Gill and all!
This is the only thread I read on this forum any more.
Having your shop at home is a great thing you can pick and choose your jobs and if you want to take on projects for others they can bring it to you.
Best wishes for the new season!
;?)

The only folk that come to me for repairs are those that do not have any money, there was a day a fellow could take it out in trade. If they have cash they go to Canadian Tire.

When I first got married there was this woman who constantly broke down in front of our house, living rural you always want to help folks out. But when the same face shows up on your doorstep every second day the wife gets suspicious of your actions even if nothing is going on.

Shop is strictly hobby, I met a retired school teacher a few weeks back at the mail drop he wants to get into wood turning but does not want to mess up his garage so i got to thinking why not invite him into my shop on a share basis. He could pay $50.00 a month towards electricity and heat, maybe things like sandpaper and glue.

In the new year i will approace him with the idea, otherwise I may put an ad up a the mail drop to see if any other old goats are willing to participate in a community work shop. Who knows I may find a master craftsman who is able to teach me some new stuff about wood and metal working.

I have a 14" x 40 " metal lathe that I purchased new a few years back but this does not make me a machinist, sure I can make things round and bore a hole larger but would like to learn how to put a sleeve into a sled or outboard cylinder or build working model steam engines.

One weekend my son made over $1200.00 picking beer bottles and cans up at a mud run event, he bought a basket case KDX 80 that was seized, we sent the cylinder out for sleeving then when it came back ported and polished the ports installed wiseco rod and piston it was the hottest little Kawasaki on the track.

I love doing stuff like this.

I will give you a quote on postage once I find the rest of the TIG electrodes.

[gustavus]

Started in my kaleidoscope last night by gluing some scrap pieces of wood together, I cheated by using the metal lathe to turn my blanks round next step is to bore a hole in the centre for my mirrors.

Dabbed on some linseed oil to bring out the grain, I made these blanks of for the experimental model. Next time I will get more creative with the different types of wood used in the glue up, some scrap pallets should give me some nice coloured hardwoods.

The centre core is Hemlock while the outside pieces are Ash, the mirrors I've been saving from large photo copiers.

Edit for update on mirrors, just finished taping my mirrors together after looking through found that my prism is way off, will have to do more research on sizing.

Go figure the woman figured out the problem when your looking through the morrors the object your looking at has a sweet spot in the focal plane.

[gustavus]

Before boring the hole cut off an 1 1/2" from each end so that the grain in the wood can be matched up once it is glued back into place, one will be the eye piece the other to cover the oil filled objective.

The inside of the cylinder is rather rough but this wont matter as the hole is only to hold and hide the mirrors. From the bits I cut off one will be a cover for the oil filled trash can while the other becomes the eyepiece.

[gustavus]

Cut the mirrors then ground the corners for that perfect fit, no tape.

Not near finished yet but some cool pictures.

[gustavus]

Here's lookin at you in the New Year.

[Patriot76]

New to the forum and did not respond until I read your entire thread. I have been reading the threads on this forum for over three weeks and learned more from your theads than all of the rest combined. Your transitions from scrapping metal to the woodworking and photography is amazing. I would have thanked you numerous times, but was caught up in the novel. You are an amazing individual with a wealth of knowledge. I envey your knowledge, lifestyle, and quality of life. The best compliment I could give you is to copy many of your adventures in my own life. I share many of your interests and you have motivated many members. There is no doubt in my mind, you are are a valuable member of this forum with many other members contributing as valuable assets. Thank you for your contributions.

With the deepest of respect,

[gustavus]

My small pocket sized drill and tap chart had become so worn it was time to renew, found some on the net then decided to print a new one up to hang on the shop wall.

Since I'm going through a framing craze made a frame today, then decided to cut a piece of glass I had been saving - it turns out to be safety glass which shattered into tiny fragments. Ended up using museum no glare glass.

If you know the source of your glass and can assure that its not safety glass its easy to cut, if there are any professional glaziers out there I'm sure that they will inform you that my method is not entirely correct.

Using a t-square I scribed the score line, for thicker glass you may want to tap the underside of the score to assist with separation, if your working with stained glass and you have irregular shaped pieces it is always advisable to tap the underside of the score.

Your irregular shaped pieces of stained glass the scores are done freehand.

On straight cuts, bring the score mark over a sharp edge where your now going to give the overhanging piece a very quick push, like magic the glass separates on the score, wear safety goggles and gloves.

If you have to grind the glass to fit, use a carborundum stone on your grinder they come in many different grits. The preferable way to grind is wet, if dry keep the piece moving as not to generate to much heat.

My favourite glass cutter has an oil filled handle which lubricates the cutting wheel, it's been a few years since I last seen that cutter. When your scoring the glass pit even firm pressure onto the cutter, never make a second pass.

[skylinejack]

Gus, you never cease to amaze me! I'm gonna go back and read this whole thread from start to finish. I know I'll learn a few useful things from you.